Solano's first hit conjures up memories for Guillen

Donovan Solano celebrated his first hit in his first major league at-bat Tuesday night with an array of phone calls from back home in his native Colombia.

The 24-year old utility infielder -- just the 12th Colombian to make it to the majors -- kept the ball he hit and the lineup card from Tuesday's game, which he plans on getting everyone on the Marlins roster to autograph.

"Everybody was happy. Everybody was proud of me," said Solano, who led the team in hitting during spring training but was surprisingly sent down to Triple A. "I just had a lot of good feelings in my body, good thoughts when I reached first."

Manager Ozzie Guillen, who said everyone in the Marlins dugout stood and cheered Solano after his hit, recalled his first hit Wednesday -- a bunt single in the ninth inning of a come-from-behind win over the Brewers on April 9, 1985 in Milwaukee.

What did Guillen do with his game ball? He donated it to a church in his native Venezuela.

"I flew to Margarita and gave it to the priest," Guillen said. "He was laughing because he had gold, medals, diamonds, other stuff, and I gave him a little ball. But it meant a lot to me and my family."

> Closer Heath Bell picked up his fourth consecutive save in as many chances Tuesday. But perhaps the more encouraging sign was how he was ringing up the radar gun with a fastball that topped off at 95, 96 miles per hour.

"My mechanics are starting to feel good. I feel like I can roar back and give it a little bit more and actually hit my spot," Bell said. "For awhile, I haven't felt like that. I've just been trying to stay under control, hit my spots and keep the ball down."

> Second baseman Omar Infante was back in the Marlins lineup Wednesday after taking three days off to return home to his native Venezuela and attend the funeral of his paternal grandfather.Infante said he was scheduled to come back and play in Tuesday's game, but didn't because his flight was delayed because of stormy weather.